(a) The appointing authority shall make all appointments, probationary and permanent, subject to ratification by the urban county council. Prior to appointment, he shall receive recommendations from the chief in whose division the vacancy exists; and he may conduct a preemployment interview if desired. In all cases the appointing authority shall receive the recommendation of the chief administrative officer and commissioner of public safety prior to the submission of the appointment to the urban county council.
(b) All appointments shall be made only from the list of candidates certified by the director after examination. Appointments under sections 23-18, 23-20 and 23-21, and, for recruit police officers, section 22-53.1 shall be made only by the selection of one (1) of the five (5) holding the highest average in the particular class wherein the vacancy exists. Appointments made from the police academy shall include all individuals who successfully complete the academy process. All such appointments will be probationary pending completion of the probationary period. No employee shall begin work until he has passed any required medical examination specified by the director.
(c) Before permanent appointment, members of the division of fire and emergency services and division of police shall serve a six-month probationary period, except that police officers and fire fighters shall serve a twelve-month probationary period. Time spent in the police academy created pursuant to sections 22-53 and 22-53.1 of the code of ordinances shall not count toward the twelve-month probationary period for members of the division of police.
(d) The probationary period shall be used for the effective adjustment of new members through supervision, counseling and evaluation, as well as for the elimination of any probationary members who do not meet the required standards of work. The appointing authority may terminate a probationary member at any time during the probationary period without ratification by or a hearing before the council.
(e) No later than two (2) weeks prior to the conclusion of the probationary period, the chief shall recommend in writing to the appointing authority the release or permanent appointment of the member. However, his recommendation may at any time prior to the conclusion of the probationary period be changed and shall not in any event be binding on the appointing authority. Any recommendation for permanent appointment shall be accompanied by a certificate by the chief that the member's probationary period has been successfully completed.
(f) Prior to the conclusion of the probationary period, the appointing authority shall either terminate the member under the same conditions as in subsection (d) or make a permanent appointment as provided in subsection (a). A member who is not released prior to service of the specified time in probationary status shall acquire permanent status automatically.
(Ord. No. 135-82, § 1, 7-29-82; Ord. No. 155-87, § 1, 7-9-87; Ord. No. 97-96, § 7, 6-13-96; Ord. No. 16-99, § 1, 1-28-99; Ord. No. 285-2003, § 9, 12-4-03)